Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Bitchtastic!

I didn't cook dinner tonight because I had a HUGE and AMAZING lunch from a new vegan-friendly restaurant in Memphis (more on that later). So I thought I'd share a mouth-watering pic of the brownies my mom made this weekend:

They're the "Bitchtastic Brownies" from Skinny Bitch in the Kitch. She doesn't have the book, but she got the recipe from the latest issue of VegNews (which she bought because my story was published there ... she doesn't normally buy VegNews). Anyway, my mom is great about making vegan desserts and entrees. She's super-supportive and usually even eats vegetarian when we go out.

I went veg at age 14, and of course, she wasn't pleased at first. She had no idea how to cook for a vegetarian. But that was 13 years ago ... now my parents even started buy veggie bacon for themselves (because it's healthier and they learned to like the taste when I was growing up).

So back to the brownies — they were delish! The addition of soft tofu gives these brownies the perfect chewiness factor. Mama didn't use the recommended whole wheat pastry flour though because it was unavailable in her small town. But she picked up a bag in Memphis this weekend, so she's stocked for any future "skinny" brownies.

Oh, and about that restaurant. For you Memphis readers, it's in the old Java, Juice, and Jazz space at 1423 Elvis Presley. I don't think it really has a name yet, but it's like a classic meat-and-three soul food joint. You get a protein and two veggies for $7.99. I had curried tofu, garlic mashed potatoes, and fried cabbage. And for dessert, they make the best (and only) vegan banana pudding I've ever eaten. I got that (and a vegan chocolate chip cookies) to go!

Oh yum! Brownies! I don't care that it's only 8 in the morning here, I want one!

Wow, you've been a vegetarian for a long time! That's quite an accomplishment! Congrats to you, it's an inspiration and something that us newbie vegans and vegetarians can hope to be able to say one day.

I figured it would be a little ghetto around there - it IS on Elvis Presley. I like hole-in-the-wall places though, so I will definitely have to check it out. It would be fun for everyone to go together!

My name is Bianca ...

About Me

I'm a 9-year vegan, 19-year vegetarian from the Mid-South, not too far from the muddy banks of the Mississippi River. And that means cornbread, butter beans, and collard greens.
These days, I live in Memphis. Check out my cookbook — Cookin' Crunk. It's filled with yummilicious veganized soul food and country classics.